Ciechanowiec

Ciechanowiec is an urban-rural municipality located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, in Wysokie Mazowieckie County, with a rich history dating back to the 13th century when a defensive stronghold existed here. The town, once an important trade center, was owned by various noble families over the centuries. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, it lay on one of the key routes from Masovia to Lithuania. During the partitions of Poland, Ciechanowiec developed dynamically, and by the outbreak of World War I, it had about 15,000 inhabitants. After World War II, the town's reconstruction began, and in 1962, thanks to the initiative of its residents, the Society of Friends of Ciechanowiec was established, which led to the creation of the Rev. Krzysztof Kluk Museum of Agriculture. Ciechanowiec and its surroundings boast numerous historic sites, including the Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity from the 18th century, where one can see the tomb epitaph of Rev. Kluk. Another interesting site is the Orthodox Church of the Ascension, built in 1884 on the site of a dismantled Uniate church. In the municipality, visitors can also admire the 17th-century wooden Church of St. Dorothy in Winna-Poświętna and a 19th-century manor complex in Pobikry. The Museum of Agriculture, the main tourist attraction, is located in a palace-park complex that features an open-air museum with over 40 exhibits. The municipality of Ciechanowiec is also an area of significant natural value, with the Nurzec River and the nearby Bug and Nurzec Valley Protected Landscape Area, making it attractive to tourists. The municipality offers tourist trails, including a 70-kilometer PTTK Hiking Trail and a cycling trail along the Masovian-Podlasie border, promoting active recreation. Tourism enthusiasts can also visit the alpaca farm in Bujenka, the largest in Europe. Ciechanowiec is a place that combines natural beauty, fascinating history, and rich cultural heritage, attracting tourists as well as history and architecture enthusiasts.